Ventilated seat-and-backrest structure for placement on existing seat

ABSTRACT

A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure comprises articulated seat and backrest structures, each comprising a frame, a mesh stretched across the frame to form a surface for supporting a sitter, two or more bow-shaped support members fixed at their ends to the frame and disposed away from the mesh and toward an existing seat with back on which the entire structure is placed, and a base plate secured to the support members and adapted to bear against the seat or its back and thereby to distribute thereover loads transmitted from the support members, the backrest structure being pivotally foldable over the seat structure.

United States Patent [191 Kobayashi Apr. 16, 1974 VENTILATEDSEAT-AND-BACKREST STRUCTURE FOR PLACEMENT ON EXISTING SEAT Appl. No.:338,401

Inventor:

US. Cl. 297/453, 5/347 Int. Cl A47c 7/14, A47c 7/02 Field of Search297/180, 453, 230, 231,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,736,027 5/1973 Stafford 297/453Primary Examiner-Casrnir A. Nunberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eric H.Waters [5 7] ABSTRACT A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure comprisesarticulated seat and backrest structures, each comprising a frame, amesh stretched across the frame to form v a surface for supporting asitter, two or more howshaped support members fixed at: their ends tothe frame and disposed away from the mesh and toward an existing seatwith back on which the entire structure is placed, and a base platesecured to the support members and adapted to bear against the seat orits back and thereby to distribute thereover loads transmitted from thesupport members, the backrest structure being pivotally foldable overthe seat strucdhre.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures 'PATENTEUAPR 16 19M SHEU Q [If 5 VENTILATEDSEAT-AND-BACKREST STRUCTURE FOR PLACEMENT ON EXISTING SEAT BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates generally to meshed wickerwork orcradle structures and to chairs and seats. More particularly, theinvention relates to a ventilated seatand-backrest structure fordetachably mounting on a conventional seat with back and for supportingone person (or more persons depending on the design) in spaced apartstate relative to the conventional seat with back thereby to enable airto circulate between the person (or persons) and the seat with back andthereby to lessen discomfort due to atmospheric heat and humidity.

It is well known that, in a hot and humid atmosphere, a person in thatatmosphere experiences minimum discomfort under the circumstances whencirculating air is permitted to reach all parts of the outer surface ofhis body and experiences increasing discomfort as that surface isincreasingly shielded from circulating air as when he sits on and leansback on a seat and seat back of air-impervious surface. For this reason,many chairs are made with open-frame backs and seats, and particularlychairs for use in hot climates are often of extremely open-framed designas in wicker chairs. In upholstery also, considerable thought is givento this problem, even for seats to be used in temperate climates.

Under certain circumstances, however, a seat and back must be used underdifferent climate conditions. For example, an automobile is often usedin extremely cold and extremely hot atmospheres. An automobile seat isordinarily upholstered with a covering material which is impervious oralmost fully impervious to air. While such a material is suitable andcomfortable for use in cold weather, it is highly uncomfortable in hotweather unless an air-cooling device is installed in the vehicle.

For driving in hot weather, seat covers made of a relatively cool"material such as woven read matting to be placed over a conventionalseat and back have heretofore been used. These seat covers, while havingcertain advantageous features such as protection of the original,factory-upholstered cover. and facility in cleaning, are not entirelysatisfactory principally because circulating air cannot reach the partsof the passengers in contact with the seat and back since these seatcovers are merely laid flat on the original seat cover without anyappreciable space therebetween for free circulation of air.

As means for affording comfort in hot weather, particularly inautomobiles, meshed wicherwork backrests which are placed in contactwith the backs of car seats are known. A backrest of this type has arelatively rigid frame supporting a woven mesh structure, frequently ofthe outer part of rattan, tightly strung on the frame, which has shortstruts or skid-like parts for contacting and resting against the carseatback thereby for form a space between the mesh structure and the carseat back.

A backrest of this type is generally used without a like seat structurebut, in some instances, it is used in car seat. Such backrests andmeshed seat structures have not been fully satisfactory because ofinsufficient durability and the possibility of their damaging theoriginal car seat and back because of concentration of loads thereon dueto lack of means of distributing these loads. Such damage tends to beserious in the case of the seat structure, which receives greater loadsthan the backrest. The bouncing motions of a vehicle also aggravate thisdamage.

Another difficulty is that the backrest and seat structure are notjoined together in many cases. In other instances they are joined butare not satisfactorily connected, whereby they tend to slip or bedisplaced independently of each other and to cause discomfort anduneasiness particularly in a vehicle.

Principally for these reasons, only backrests of this type arefrequently used without seats. Accordingly, this is but a half measurewhich does not alleviate the hot and stickly discomfort at the seat ofthe pants and the underside of the thighs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide anew and improved seat-and-backrest structure of the ventilated typereferred to above which is not accompanied by the difficultiesencountered heretofore.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide aseat-and-backrest structure of strong yet light construction wherein abackrest structure is detachably hinged to a seat structure, whereby thebackrest structure can be pivotally folded over the seat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure of the abovestated character in which the principal parts thereof can be readilydisassembled by hand without tools for compact stowage thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure of theabove stated character in which the parts thereof to contact and bearagainst the existing seat and back are adapted to distribute loads overthe seat and back thereby to prevent damage thereto.

According to this invention in a broad aspect thereof, brieflysummarized, there is provided a ventilated seatand-backrest structurecomprising articulated seat and backrest structures, each comprising aframe, a mesh stretched across the frame to form a surface forsupporting a sitter, two or more bow-shaped support members fixed attheir ends to the frame and disposed away from the mesh and toward anexisting seat with back on which the seat-and-backrest structure isplaced, and base support means secured to the support members andadapted to bear against the seat or its back and thereby to distributethereover loads transmitted from the support members, the backreststructure being hinged at its lower part to the rear part of the seatstructure whereby it is pivotally foldable over the seat structure.

The nature, utility, and details of this invention will be more clearlyapparent from the following detailed description with respect topreferred embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, throughout which like parts are designated bylike reference numbers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts cut away, showing one exampleof an articulated ventilated cradle structure according to thisinvention;

FIG. 2 is a right side elevation, in vertical section, showing twopositions of the backrest of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along the plane indicated by line IIl--III inFIG. 2 and viewed in the arrow direction;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view showing one exampleof the manner in which a base plate is detachably fixed to a transverseskid member;

FIG. is a fragmentary, perspective view showing one example of themanner in which the backrest is hinged to the seat structure by adetachable articulated joint;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, with parts cut away, showing anotherexample of a base plate of a type which is fixedly and integrallysecured to support members;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, with parts out away, showing the seatstructure of still another example of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a right side elevation, in vertical section, showing the seatstructure shown in FIG. 7 assembled with a backrest; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which thebackrest of the structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is hinged to the seatstructure by a detachable articulated joint.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the first example of the ventilated cradlestructure of this invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, theentire structure comprises, broadly divided, a seat structure 1 and abackrest structure 2.

The seat structure 1 comprises, essentially, a seat frame 3 of asubstantially rectangular shape with rounded corners in plan view, anetting or mesh 4 woven from synthetic resin material and stretchedfully across the seat frame 3 to form a seat surface for directlysupporting a person seated thereon, a pair of transverse members 5 and 6disposed below the frame 3 and mesh 4 parallelly and spaced apartrelative to each other and fixed at their ends to the lateral side partsof the seat frame 3, and a substantially rectangular base plate 7provided with perforations or openings 8 and secured by clip fasteners9, 9a to the lower surfaces of the transverse members 5 and 6. All outerparts of the frame 3 and transverse members 5 and 6 are completelycovered with a tape of synthetic resin wound helically therearound. Thepurposes of this covering are protection of the frame 3 and members 5and 6, aesthetic external appearance, and protection of clothing, bodyparts, and other objects from chafing which would otherwise be caused bythe bare metal.

The seat frame 3 is formed from a high-strength material such as a steelbar or tube, preferably of circular cross section. The transversemembers 5 and 6 have a bowed shape with convex substantiallystraight-line sides directed downward and thereby resemble skids restingon the base plate 7. These transverse members 5 and 6 are also made of ahigh-strength material such as a steel bar or tube. While the crosssection of each of these members 5 and 6 may be suitably selected, thatin the illustrated example is substantially rectangular with roundedcorners. The frame 3 is provided on its rear side part near the left andright ends thereof with short tubes 10a and 10 fixed thereto, forexample, by

welding and wound with the tape material used to cover the frame 3.These tubes 10a and 10 constitute gudgeons for hinging of the backreststructure 2 as described hereinafter.

The base plate 7 is made of a strong yet flexible material such as astrong flexible synthetic resin plate and is of sufficient size for gooddistribution of the load transmitted thereby to a conventional seat 25,on which the base plate 7 directly rests. The shape, dimensions, andnumber of the openings 8 may be suitably selected as long as thefunction of the base plate 7 of load distribution is not impaired. Thisbase plate 7 is secured to the transverse members 5 and 6 by fasteners9, 9a, which are similar to fasteners 19, 19a described hereinafter.

The backrest structure 2 is very similar in construction to the seatstructure 1 and comprises a backrest frame 13 similar to the seat frame3, a netting or mesh 14 similar to the mesh 4, vertical members 15 and16 similar to the transverse members 5 and 6, and a base plate 17similar to the base plate 7, this base plate 17 having openings 18 andsecured by fasteners 19, 19a to the rear surfaces of the verticalmembers 15 and 16. This backrest structure is further provided with atransverse member 20 of bow shape fixed at its two ends to the frame 13and secured to the base plate 17 by fasteners 21, 21a similar to thefasteners 9, 9a and 19, 19a, downwardly extended ends 11, 11a of thebottom side part of the frame 13, which ends are respectively providedwith outwardly bent extremities 12, 12a constituting pintles for fittinginto the above mentioned gudgeons 10, 10a, and a fastenable strap 22with a fastening hook 23 for securing the backrest structure 2 to theconventional back 26 of the seat 25.

A feature of the cradle structure of this invention, particularly in theinstant example thereof, is that the principal parts thereof aredetachably assembled and can be readily disassembled and reassembled byhand without any tools. More specifically, the backrest structure 2 isdetachably connected to the seat structure 1, and the base plates 7 and17 are detachably secured respectively to the transverse members 5 and 6and to the vertical members 15 and 16 and the transverse member 20.

For this purpose, the above mentioned extended ends 11, 11a of thebackrest frame 13 in their normal free states are spaced apart by adistance such that they must be forced toward each other as indicated byarrows in FIG. 5 so that the extreme tips of their pintle parts 12 and12a will clear the inner rims of the gudgeons l0 and 10a for insertionthereinto or extraction therefrom during assembly or disassembly.

The base plates and 17 are detachably secured to the transverse members5 and 6 and to the vertical members 15 and 16 and transverse member 20,respectively, by pairs of fasteners such as the pair 19 and 190. Whilethese fasteners may be separately fabricated fasteners which are securedto their respective base plates, those in this example are formedintegrally with the base plates from flap-like parts cut out therefrom.

The fastener 19a and one side is of a trough-like shape comprising a webpart projecting perpendicularly from the base plate 17 and a bent flangepart projecting parallely to the base plate from the outer end of theweb part. The vertical member 16 mere fits into the trough of thisfastener 19a. On the other hand, the

other fastener 19 has a similar trough-like shape but has an additionalflange bent back toward the base plate 17 from the outer end of thefirst flange, whereby there is formed a fastener which almost completelyencompasses the vertical member 19 fitted therein except for a narrowslit.

The base plate 17 is secured onto the vertical members l5 and 16 byelastically bending the base plate until the fasteners 19 and 19a can befitted and snapped thereon. The otherpairs of fasteners 19, 19a and 9,9a are similarly constructed and used.

Another feature of the ventilated cradle structure of this invention isthe provision of hinged means such as the pintles l2 and 12a pivotallyinserted in the gudgeons l0 and a, respectively. By this hinge means,the backrest structure 2 can be folded forward over the seat structure 1into relatively compact form for temporary storage. This feature isalmost a necessity in the case of a front seat of a two-door automobileof the coupe type wherein the seat back is folded forward to permitpersons to enter and leave the rear compartment.

In another example of the ventilated cradle structure according to thisinvention, each of the base plates of the seat structure and thebackrest structure is integrally fixed to its respective support membersat the time of fabrication. This state of attachment of the base plateis illustrated in FIG. 6 with respect to the base plate 170 of thebackrest structure. The base plate 170 in this arrangement may befabricated from a hard synthetic resin.

In still another example of the ventilated cradle structure of thisinvention as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, a pallet member 37 madeofa soft, elastic material such as a formed plastic is used instead of abase plate. This pallet member 37 is stretched between the front sidepart and the rear side part of the seat frame 33 and is not fixed to thetransverse members 35 and 36. A fabric sheet 41 interposed between thetransverse members 35 and 36 and the pallet member 37 is also stretchedbetween the front and rear parts of the seat frame 33.

Another feature of this example is that the angle between the pintles l2and 12a differs slightly from the angle between the gudgeons 10 and 10aas indicated in FIG. 9. Accordingly, the pintles l2 and 12a are twistedslightly into alignment with the gudgeons l0 and 1021 when beinginserted thereinto, whereby the extensions 11 and 11a are subjectedcontinually to an elastic torsional strain, which produces a springforce urging the backrest structure to pivot rearward about the pintlesl2 and 12a.

I claim:

I. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure for placement on a seat withback, said structure comprising:

a seat structure (1) which comprises a seat frame (3),

a seat mesh (4) stretched across said seat frame to form a seatingsurface.

a plurality of support members (5,6) of bowed shape fixed at their endsto the seat frame and disposed below and spaced apart from said seat,mesh, and

a base support structure (7) secured to the lower surfaces of saidsupport members and functioning, when placed on said seat. todistribute, over the seat, loads transmitted from the support members; abackrest structure (2) which comprises a backrest frame (13),

a back mesh (14) stretched across said backrest frame to form abackresting surface,

a plurality of back support members (15, 16, 20) of bowed shape fixed attheir ends to the backrest frame and disposed to the rear of and spacedapart from said back mesh, and

a back support structure (17) secured to the rear surfaces of said backsupport members and functioning, when placed against said back, todistribute, over the back, loads transmitted from the back supportmembers; and

hinge means (10, 12, 10a, 12a) detachably and pivotally connecting thelower part of the backrest structure to the rear part of the seatstructure and thereby enabling the backrest structure to be pivotallyfolded over the seat structure,

said seat-and-backrest structure functioning to support at least oneperson seated thereon in a ventilated state wherein atmospheric air canfreely circulate to all parts of the persons body contacting saidstructure.

2. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim 1 inwhich said base support structure and said back support structure aresecured to their respective support members by detachable fasteningmeans such that said structures can be readily secured to and detachedfrom said support members by hand without tools.

3. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure set forth in claim 1 inwhich said base and back support structures are fixedly and integrallysecure to their respective support members at the time of fabricationthereof.

4. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim 1 inwhich said base and back support structures are respectively base plateshaving perforations and made of a relatively flexible material.

5. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim 1 inwhich said base support member is a pallet member (37) made of a soft,elastic material. preferably a foamed plastic material, and a fabircsheet (41) is interposed between the pallet member and the supportmembers, the pallet member and the fabric sheet being stretched acrossthe seat frame and being fixed at their edges to the front and rearparts of the seat frame.

6. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim 1 inwhich hinge means comprises gudgeons (10, 10a) fixed to the rear part ofthe seat frame at spaced apart positions and pintles (12, 12a)projecting substantially transversely from spaced part leg members (11,11a) extending downward from and integrally fixed to the lower part ofthe backrest frame, said pintles being adapted to fit rotatably inrespective gudgeons, said leg members being elastically deflected toenable the pintles to be thus fitted into the gudgeons, whereby thepintles are held in the resulting fitted state by the elastic springforce of the leg members.

7. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim 6 inwhich the pintles in free state are purposely misaligned relative to thegudgeons, whereby, when the pintles are coercively fitted into thegudgeons, a spring moment urging the backrest strucforth in claim 1 inwhich the backrest structure is provided with means (22) for detachablysecuring the backrest structure to the back of the existing seat.

10. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim 1which is adapted to support a plurality of sitters.

1. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure for placement on a seat withback, said structure comprising: a seat structure (1) which comprises aseat frame (3), a seat mesh (4) stretched across said seat frame to forma seating surface, a plurality of support members (5,6) of bowed shapefixed at their ends to the seat frame and disposed below and spacedapart from said seat mesh, and a base support structure (7) secured tothe lower surfaces of said support members and functioning, when placedon said seat, to distribute, over the seat, loads transmitted from thesupport members; a backrest structure (2) which comprises a backrestframe (13), a back mesh (14) stretched across said backrest frame toform a backresting surface, a plurality of back support members (15, 16,20) of bowed shape fixed at their ends to the backrest frame anddisposed to the rear of and spaced apart from said back mesh, and a backsupport structure (17) secured to the rear surfaces of said back supportmembers and functioning, when placed against said back, to distribute,over the back, loads transmitted from the back support members; andhinge means (10, 12, 10a, 12a) detachably and pivotally connecting thelower part of the backrest structure to the rear part of the seatstructure and thereby enabling the backrest structure to be pivotallyfolded over the seat structure, said seat-and-backrest structurefunctioning to support at least one person seated thereon in aventilated state wherein atmospheric air can freely circulate to allparts of the person''s body contacting said structure.
 2. A ventilatedseat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said basesupport structure and said back support structure are secured to theirrespective support members by detachable fastening means such that saidstructures can be readily secured to and detached from said supportmembers by hand without tools.
 3. A ventilated seat-and-backreststructure as set forth in claim 1 in which said base and back supportstructures are fixedly and integrally secure to their respective supportmembers at the time of fabrication thereof.
 4. A ventilatedseat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said baseand back support structures are respectively base plates havingperforations and made of a relatively flexible material.
 5. A ventilatedseat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim 1 in which said basesupport member is a pallet member (37) made of a soft, elastic material,preferably a foamed plastic material, and a fabirc sheet (41) isinterposed between the pallet member and the support members, the palletmember and the fabric sheet being stretched across the seat frame andbeing fixed at their edges to the front and rear parts of the seatframe.
 6. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as set forth in claim1 in which hinge means comprises gudgeons (10, 10a) fixed to the rearpart of the seat frame at spaced apart positions and pintles (12, 12a)projecting sUbstantially transversely from spaced part leg members (11,11a) extending downward from and integrally fixed to the lower part ofthe backrest frame, said pintles being adapted to fit rotatably inrespective gudgeons, said leg members being elastically deflected toenable the pintles to be thus fitted into the gudgeons, whereby thepintles are held in the resulting fitted state by the elastic springforce of the leg members.
 7. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure asset forth in claim 6 in which the pintles in free state are purposelymisaligned relative to the gudgeons, whereby, when the pintles arecoercively fitted into the gudgeons, a spring moment urging the backreststructure to pivot rearward and away from the seat structure isproduced.
 8. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as set forth inclaim 1 in which the outer parts of the seat and backrest frames, thesupport members, and the back support members are covered with a smoothprotective covering.
 9. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as setforth in claim 1 in which the backrest structure is provided with means(22) for detachably securing the backrest structure to the back of theexisting seat.
 10. A ventilated seat-and-backrest structure as set forthin claim 1 which is adapted to support a plurality of sitters.